Do we have the right to decide when we die?

[makeupgirl]

There is a thread in Off Topic about this same question and it got me to thinking after there were a lot of people supporting the right to die, whether it's because we're terminally ill or whatever reason. Euthanasia from what I've studied in the past is illegal in some states. As far as suicide goes, I've had suicidal thoughts before as a bipolar patient but what stopped me from going through with it is the Holy Spirit telling me not to go through with it and that I needed help. I've also had illnesses that cause so much pain that I screamed to die, but again, it wasn't my choice. But the Holy Spirit always bring the verse in Heb 9:27 to my mind when I have these thoughts:

"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment"

I guess I'm wondering what would give us the right as human beings and as part of God's creation to decide when we should die? I'm thinking that it wouldn't be fair to God if you're in your right mind and decide, "I think this is the day I'm going to die" and even though I have had suicidal thoughts and have wanted to die from being in so much physical pain before; I don't think it's right to even have these thoughts (even though it indicates one of the signs of a mental illness) because of the fact that God has given every human being an appointed time to die.

What do yall think? (BTW was I making sense because I'm still running a fever from this viral infection I've picked up )

 

[makeupgirl]

Bump .....just in case.

 

[Farida]

I don't believe in suicide, nor euthanasia just because of terminal illness (depression may severely cloud judgment), old age, disability...

But I wonder. I spent some time in the hospice with a woman and she was so ill. She had lost so much weight she looked like a corpse. She was not lucid and was in a lot of pain. She was on so much morphine that it was crazy, she was still in pain but so "high" off of the pain killers like I said, she was not lucid. The docs had said if they upped her meds she'd just lay there comatose. This was not a borderline case, we knew she was dying. Such a sad, painful death. I felt it was so bad for her family to have to see her like that, and for her to endure that. Still, I cannot bring myself to say its okay to euthanize her.

Many people love their dogs like crazy and when a dog is on its dying phase people put it to sleep so it won't suffer...humans are not dogs and granted we may put a dog down due to lack of finances for pain and other palliative care for terminal illness but not a human being. I'm losing my train of thought...

What about in cases of war, being in the middle of nowhere or in abject poverty? My grandmother told me about having surgery on her skull as a child without pain meds! They just held her down and did the procedure. This was living in a village subject to British rule, while some native doctors (real M.D.s) were around they often were not allowed to practice or had no access to pain meds and technology. I don't know if for example, I could watch someone with a collapsed lung or any fatal injury that involves a long, slow, painful death without any type of pain medication and just watching/letting the person die....ugh

I'm no help, right? lol. God makes the ultimate decision, I am so afraid to draw any lines.

 

[Prudent1]

makeupgirl,
I would say no in a nutshell b/c we willingly relinquish our rights over our bodies as servants of Christ. How would deciding to die honor God? I have heard many heartfelt arguements on both sides of this issue for many years. They have been very compelling. The human part of me understands both sides. The spiritual part of me understands that whatever I understand, desire, etc must yield to what God says. He gets to have the final say so for me. He is the period at the end of my sentences whether I agree, understand, or whatever. He knew our beginning before it existed, made plans for our lives, and appointed the times our souls will leave these 'earth' suits via death. He's thorough in all things. JMHO

Hope you are feeling better today!

Here are some of the scriptures that lead me to my conclusions.
Rom 12:1
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

1 Cor 6:19-20
19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

 

[Guitarhero]

I believe people have the right to dignity. Dignity means the protection and preservation of life and also of a dignified death. If someone is dying and in pain, or on a respirator, there is not mandate to keep them alive. Allowing them to pass to the next world is the right choice, imho. But, no one has the right to speed up a death. Removing supporting medical equipment does not play a part in that.

 

[Prudent1]

I believe people have the right to dignity. Dignity means the protection and preservation of life and also of a dignified death. If someone is dying and in pain, or on a respirator, there is not mandate to keep them alive. Allowing them to pass to the next world is the right choice, imho. But, no one has the right to speed up a death. Removing supporting medical equipment does not play a part in that.

^^^This right here...

 

[blazingthru]

there were a lot of people supporting the right to die, whether it's because we're terminally ill or whatever reason. Euthanasia from what I've studied in the past is illegal in Heb 9:27 :"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment"

I have asked the lord to put me to sleep before the great time of trouble comes, who knows if God will answer my prayers, but I believe that you can ask God for anything. Anything. Its not a sin to ask the Lord to take your life there are many examples of Godly man who have asked God to put them to sleep and God has answer either he put them to sleep which in the case of Samson or he gave them the strength to endure as in the case of Elijah and Jonah. But it has to be within the will of God and you had better be in good standing with God before you even begin to think of such a thing (not you) but whomever would ask God. it can't be for selfish reasons or your just tired of living.

I just got finish reading this really good book called Passionate prayers and her (brenda Walsh) Grandmother was dying and all she kept saying was when she died she wanted to die with the word in the name of the father and the son and the holy Ghost. So whenever she fell asleep and woke up she would say oh I am stil here and would talk and so forth and then she would get tired and say it again and go to sleep. This woman was a prayor Warrior so she was excited about dying. Had the nurses and doctors interested in her because she was in terrible pain and very excited.

Brenda kept her grandmother comfortable she push the button (morphin) every 10 minutes. But God blessed her because she woke up and said those words and she closed her eyes, didn't wake up. She died peacefully without any struggle. God is so merciful even when we are dying. So no I don't agree with suicide or Euthanasia, I believe that God will allow you to endure as much as you can and then will close your eyes in peace. If your obedient and you live your life trusting in God. You are more able to deal with whatever comes your way. I would not agree to Euthanasia. I think when a person has total trust in God he can endure anything. Anything. Me personally if I was in great pain I would ask the Lord to put me to sleep so that my family would not suffer any longer. What a great God we serve he has compassion on us he truly does and he wants to bless us and he will bless us. He died on the cross for us, if that is not love. I don't know what else would be.